Sound discrimination of two sympatric,threatened fish species allows for their in situ mapping

1. Human impacts on marine ecosystems are increasing and the number of fish species listed in the Red List is constantly growing. In the Mediterranean Sea, seven of the 10 bony fishes defined as Threatened by the IUCN are known to be vocal, including the target species of this study: the shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa Linnaeus, 1758) and the brown meagre (Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758). As a result, non-invasive passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) can be used to pinpoint their distribution at sea. However, for PAM to be effective, reliable acoustic discrimination is required because the sounds they emit during reproduction are remarkably similar (i.e. short broadband pulsed sounds).
2. The shi drum and the brown meagre are closely related, elusive, vocal sciaenids, partially overlapping in their ecological niche. During summer 2019, three PAM surveys were conducted along the tidal inlets of the Venice lagoon (Italy). Here, the calls of both species have been recognized according to their temporal features: shi drum sounds were made up of a lower number of longer pulses with a different envelope, repeated at a lower rate than those of the brown meagre. Further, shi drum and brown meagre sounds of different origins (aquaculture and semi-natural conditions) were analysed and compared with those collected during the survey of the study area in order to validate the field collected data.
3. Call discrimination allowed for a fine-scale species mapping, showing a partially overlapping distribution of the two species along the inlets. This is the first case in which two sciaenids have been documented to share their reproductive habitat in the Mediterranean Sea.
4. This study demonstrates that it is feasible to acoustically monitor the target species even in those parts of the Mediterranean Sea where they co-exist. This, in its turn, could provide managers with the required data for effective conservation measures to be implemented.

     

Encapsulation of Carlina acaulis essential oil and carlina oxide to develop long-lasting mosquito larvicides: microemulsions versus nanoemulsions

Journal of Pest Science - Carlina acaulis root essential oil (EO) is one of the most potent mosquito larvicides (LC50?<?2 ppm). This EO is mainly composed of carlina...     

New Parameterization of a Global Vegetation Model for Steppe Ecosystem From Southern Siberian In Situ Measurements

This article presents a new parameterization of the global vegetation organizing carbon and hydrology in dynamic ecosystems (ORCHIDEE) model, modifying the assimilation, allocation, and phenology processes for a steppe ecosystem. It aims 1) to improve the modeled growth primary production (GPP) based on both in situ CO₂ flux measurements and remote-sensing data of the fraction of absorbed photosynthetic radiation, and 2) to evaluate how GPP improvement results in better-modeled fluxes for ecosystem respiration, net ecosystem exchange, and latent heat. This new parameterization leads to a realistic annual GPP (comparable to the data within 10%), and a realistic seasonal variability of GPP (R²=0.80). Further, we found that improving GPP into ORCHIDEE immediately brings ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem exchange fluxes into better agreement with the eddy-covariance data, both on seasonal but also on interannual time scales. This result suggests that the response of this steppe ecosystem to interannual climate variations can be well reproduced from the response to seasonal variation, and that biotic effects are not interannual. This indicates the potential ability to reproduce climate-induced changes in the carbon balance of steppes with the use of a generic process-oriented vegetation model such as ORCHIDEE.     

Silk grafting with chitosan and crosslinking agents

Chitosan grafting onto silk was tested with three crosslinking agents: trifunctional epoxy resin Araldite DY-T, PEG400 dimethacrylate, and glutaraldehyde in acetic as well as in tartaric acid solutions. Operating conditions were studied to obtain a significant silk weighting with satisfactory graft yields. With the epoxy crosslinker the weight gain was in the range from 1.8 to 8.8 % with graft yield from 8 to 23 %. In the case of PEG400DMA weight gain was 8–12 % with 22–24 % graft yield. With glutaraldehyde in tartaric acid solution a maximum weight gain of 8.4 % with 27.6 % graft yield was obtained. Results of determination of primary amino groups on the grafted silk showed that with epoxy and glutaraldehyde, unlike PEG400DMA, the amino groups of chitosan were only partially involved in crosslinking. Results of DSC analyses suggested that the modification of fibroin structure in chitosan-grafted silk was stronger with glutaraldehyde than with epoxy or dimethacrylate. FTIR-ATR spectra of grafted fibers were found very similar to that of control silk with an additional weak peak ascribable to chitosan in 1180–1080 cm⁻¹ range. Surface investigation through AFM showed clear morphology differences between chitosan-grafted silk with epoxy or dimethacrylate and that crosslinked with glutaraldehyde; the latter appears uneven and scale-like, the others slightly rougher than the original silk.     

Mechanical comparison of 3 different clamp and 2 different rod types of a new veterinary internal fixation system, 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix

OBJECTIVE: To compare the gripping force of a standard clamp with click-on and T clamps of the 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix (AO Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland), mounted on smooth and roughened rods. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro mechanical study. METHODS: Rods were mounted on a clamp-holding device. Each clamp type was tested on a materials-testing machine in groups of 6 specimens for torsional and axial load stability on smooth and roughened rods (total, 72 specimens). The variable evaluated was the discontinuity point (DP) as a measure for gliding resistance of the clamp on the rod. Means (+/-SD) were calculated for all groups separately. For statistical comparison, a multiple regression model was fitted with level of significance set at P =.05. RESULTS: The direction of torsion had a significant effect on DP for both asymmetric clamps (standard, click-on). In torsion and axial load, the roughened rod had significantly higher DP levels than the smooth rod for the standard clamp. Rods differed only in axial load for the T clamp, again favoring the roughened rod. The click-on clamp did not reach 10% of the values achieved by the other clamps, independent from the rods and loading conditions. Compared with the T clamp, standard clamp DP values were significantly higher in torsion on the roughened rod as well as in axial load on both rod types. CONCLUSIONS: The roughened rod with a standard clamp was mechanically superior. For the T clamp, the small loss of gripping force may be compensated for by the possibility of inserting 2 more screws. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The roughened rod may enhance the bending, compressive, and torsional properties of the 4.5/5.5-mm VetFix system by reducing the risk of clamp gliding on the rod. The standard clamp is the clamp of choice, except for the metaphyseal or epiphyseal region, at which use of a T clamp may be indicated to increase the number of screws inserted at the end of the rod.     

Current status and epidemiological observation of Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) in dogs, cats and foxes in Italy: a "coincidence" or a parasitic disease of the Old Continent?

Thelazia callipaeda is a spirurid nematode which causes ocular infections in dogs and man and, occasionally, in cats, foxes and rabbits. The intermediate host and vector of T. callipaeda is unknown. For a long time T. callipaeda incidence was reported only from the Russian Federation and the Far East, but recently it has also been found in Italy. In order to investigate the spread of T. callipaeda in Italy, a survey was carried out in two sites, site A in the Piedmont region (North West Italy), and site B in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). Dogs, cats and foxes in site A and dogs in site B were examined for eyeworms, using different procedures and timing. From January 1995 to August 2002, 91 dogs, 4 cats and 903 fox carcasses were examined in site A, and from October 1999 to January 2003, 443 dogs were examined in site B, and the eyeworms collected were identified using morphological keys. Twenty-one (23.07%) and 185 (41.76%) of the dogs from sites A and B, respectively, were found to be infected by eyeworms; furthermore, all the cats examined and 46 fox carcasses (5.1%) were positive for eyeworms. All the nematodes collected were identified as T. callipaeda. These results indicate that T. callipaeda is not confined to Eastern Europe and Asia, but that it has spread to the Old Continent, and to both Northern and Southern Italy. Considering the high prevalence of infected dogs reported in some municipalities (e.g. 60.14% of 138 dogs examined in a municipality from site B), it is assumed that one or more vectors are significantly present in the areas under investigation. Furthermore, there is good reason to believe that T. callipaeda is also present in other European countries. Speculation as to the origins of this parasitic infestation in Europe and the biology of T. callipaeda and its vector/s is also discussed.     

Estimating forest area at the year 1990 by two-phase sampling on historical remotely sensed imagery in Italy

Forest area in the year 1990 is a figure of great interest under the Kyoto Protocol. This note is devoted to a scientific exercise for the probabilistic ex post assessment of such a figure in Italy. Estimation was performed by two-phase point sampling, which made use of historical remotely sensed imagery. In the first phase, a sample of 12 089 points was selected according to an unaligned systematic sampling and the selected points were classified in land-use categories by Landsat 5 TM imagery. In the second phase, a sample of 3000 points was selected by stratified sampling in which the strata were determined by the satellite classification and the selected points were classified by aerial photos, assumed as ground truth. A two-phase estimate of land-use coverage partitioning the Italian territory was obtained together with a conservative estimate of the sampling variance-covariance. The procedure has proved to be of relatively easy implementation and objective repeatability.     

Patterns of nodal metastases,biological behaviour and prognosis of canine mast cell tumours of the pinna: A multi-institutional retrospective study

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (cMCTs) of the pinna have been associated with an aggressive biological behaviour, although data remain scarce. The knowledge acquired over the past years on histologic gradings, and the value of lymph node (LN) staging, may help in better characterizing this anatomical presentation. The first aim was to describe the frequency, location, and histologic appearance of LN metastases in cMCT of the pinna. A second aim was to evaluate prognosis. Medical records of dogs with cMCT of the pinna, that underwent tumour and sentinel (SLN) or regional LN (RLN) excision, were reviewed. The influence of potential prognostic variables on time to progression (TTP) and tumour-specific survival (TSS) was investigated. Thirty-nine dogs were included: 19 (48.7%) had Kiupel high-grade (K-HG) and 20 (51.3%) had low-grade (K-LG) MCTs. Eighteen (46.1%) dogs underwent SLN mapping: the superficial cervical LN was at least one of SLN in 17 (94.4%) cases. Twenty-two (56.4%) dogs had LN metastases; the superficial cervical LN was always involved. On multivariable analysis, only K-HG was associated with increased risk of progression (p = .043) and tumour-related death (p = .021). Median TTP and TSS were 270 and 370 days in K-HG, respectively; these were not reached in dogs with K-LG tumours (p < .01). cMCTs of the pinna are often K-HG and are also associated with a higher frequency of LN metastasis; however, we confirmed the independent prognostic value of histologic grading. A multimodal treatment may lead to favourable long-term outcome. Moreover, the superficial cervical LN is most often the SLN.